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Feeling depressed 2 years after successful transplant

Posted by krsunny1 @krsunny1, Apr 4, 2022

I had a successful double lung transplant in 2019.
Over the past few years, I ‘ve struggled a lot with side effects of the transplant medications. Thankfully, I am beginning to feel better physically and am gaining strength. My issue is that I have started feeling very lonely and sad. Not sure exactly why, but it could be because I retired about a year ago and I have a lot of free time. Curious to know if any other transplant patients have experienced the same thing.

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stephanierp | @stephanierp | Apr 26, 2022
In reply to @krsunny1 "Side effects that bother me the most effect my sleep patterns. I am wide awake at..." + (show)
@krsunny1

Side effects that bother me the most effect my sleep patterns. I am wide awake at night, but sleepy in the daytime. I have been talking to a sleep specialist who thinks I have obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep disorder(?). Will do overnight sleep study at Mayo sleep lab in mid May to confirm.
Also, restarted individual therapy with psychiatrist. Feeling some better emotionally, but still a deep sense of loneliness. May have more to do with recent retirement, isolation due to COVID and distance from family than my lung transplant. I am connecting with transplant community in Georgia which helps. I will keep you updated on my progress.

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Have them check your blood pressure laying down, versus standing blood pressure. We recently discovered my bp significantly drops when I stand, making me want to lay down during the day and feeling much better when I lay down at night. It's called orthostatic hypotension. There are meds to correct it. We are watching mine for a month or so first, to see if it continues
.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 27, 2022
In reply to @krsunny1 "One medicine that is known to increase sleepiness is called Clonidine. It is a patch that..." + (show)
@krsunny1

One medicine that is known to increase sleepiness is called Clonidine. It is a patch that is sometimes used to reduce high blood pressure. I took it for 3-4 months and sleepiness was really bad. Doctor finally switched me to Metoprolol which has been effective in reducing my b.p. and not making me as sleepy. Also, I recently learned that I have a paralyzed diaphragm on one side which may reduce my blood oxygen levels, especially at night. Sleep study at Mayo (Rochester) is not until mid May.

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@krsunny1,
If you have any questions about the sleep study at Mayo in Rochester, I'm happy to say that one of the mentors has experienced it himself. He would be happy to fill you in on the details or answer any questions you might have.

Do you stay at Gift of Life House while you are there? That is where my husband and I stayed during my transplant.
May is coming!

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krsunny1 | @krsunny1 | Apr 27, 2022
In reply to @rosemarya "@krsunny1, If you have any questions about the sleep study at Mayo in Rochester, I'm happy..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@krsunny1,
If you have any questions about the sleep study at Mayo in Rochester, I'm happy to say that one of the mentors has experienced it himself. He would be happy to fill you in on the details or answer any questions you might have.

Do you stay at Gift of Life House while you are there? That is where my husband and I stayed during my transplant.
May is coming!

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Thanks for the offer, but I have done the overnight sleep study a couple times before, so I am familiar with it.
During my transplant recovery time, I did not stay at the Gift of Life House, but I have visited there. Thanks for the support. Kathie

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